Not long after the Euro came into being in January 1999, Germany was mocked as being the sick man of Europe, its economic fortunes in sharp contrast to the fast-growing countries at the geographical borders of the new currency zone. More than a decade on, however, the tables have turned. Even as the peripheral economies of Spain, Greece and Ireland continue to struggle, 2012 will be the year in which Germany puts a firm stamp on the Euro zone. This will be felt in three related spheres: in Germany's new-found economic strength, in its preference for, and insistence on greater honesty in public finances and in its growing influence on the Europian Central Bank. Europe's economy is set to slow in 2012 as governments address their increasing budget deficits. Germany will enjoy faster gross domestic product growth than the average in the richer parts of the currency zone (whose membership keeps on increasing). Germany is less burdened by household debt and has a smaller budget deficit than almost all its peers - and so has less need to raise taxes or curb public spending. The country is also better placed to benefit from the boom in emerging markets.